Issue - meetings

This report provides the Panel with an overview of early years and school education performance in the academic year 2024-25, and the work underway to address inequalities in educational attainment.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding addressed the Panel and highlighted the following points to the Panel.

·  The report provides the Panel with an overview of early years and school education performance in the academic year 2024-25, and the work underway to address inequalities in educational attainment. He said that the Council were committed in their attempts to achieving improved performances.

·  A slight improvement in KS2 educational outcomes for Free School Meal (FSM) eligible children, however, the attainment gap between FSM pupils in B&NES and nationally is significant: 36% of B&NES FSM pupils achieve the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to 48% nationally.

·  Children with SEN Support and an EHCP perform better in all key stages than regional and national averages.

·  The Local Authority remains committed to delivering initiatives with education settings to enhance outcomes for Free School Meal (FSM) pupils. Our efforts focus on the early years, where the LA can have the most impact. This year's budget includes additional funding to expand the delivery of our Language for Life programme, now extended to more early years settings, and to provide targeted support for transitions from nursery to school.

·  Pupils in B&NES attained higher grades than regional and national figures at all stages of education, except at Key Stage 2 (KS2), where attainment remained in line with national averages.

·  In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the percentage of children reaching a good level of development increased to 73%, higher than regional and national averages.

·  Key stage 2 performance for all pupils in the combined reading, writing and maths (RWM) was higher this year, rising from 60% to 63%, higher than the southwest average of 60% and in line with the national average of 63%.

·  Key stage 4 attainment in grades 9 -5 English and Maths and in Attainment 8, though slightly down from 2023/2024, is once again higher than regional and national averages. This is to be commended.

·  Girls performed better in Key Stage 2 than boys and in the KS4 Attainment 8 measure, but for the first time since 18/19, boys did marginally better than girls in KS4 grades 9 -5 English and Maths.

·  Attainment in B&NES is lowest in the Black and Other ethnic groups at all stages of education and remains below national levels at KS2 and KS4. In KS2, 53 % of Black pupils achieved the expected standard in RWM, compared to 63% nationally. The gap reduces in KS4, with 39% of black pupils attaining grades 9-5 in english and maths, compared to 43% nationally.

·  When in secondary school, our FSM cohort does make much better progress. Whilst outcomes for this group of pupils in KS4 have previously been in line with national outcomes, this year they have fallen slightly below the national average. However, the progress this group makes in our secondary group is significant.

The Consultant in Public Health highlighted the following further areas from the report.

·  Addressing the attainment gap is a shared responsibility and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97